Missing mushroom picker prompts search near Reid Lake
Czech woman disappeared July 3 after leaving group to retrieve her backpack
Michele Taylor
Northern News Services
Friday, July 7, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An air and ground search is underway for a missing woman near Reid Lake.
Searchers get ready to board an Acasta helicopter to search for a missing mushroom picker who has been lost out on the Ingraham Trail near Cameron River since Monday. Maria, as she has been identified by her follow pickers, came to Canada from the Czech Republic. She has not been seen since Monday afternoon when she went to look for her backpack. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
The woman, part of a group picking mushrooms in the area, was last seen at approximately 4 p.m. on July 3, according to an RCMP news release.
RCMP are working with volunteers from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, Yellowknife Search and Rescue and one Twin Otter aircraft from the Canadian Forces' 440 Transport Squadron are assisting in the search.
RCMP have also enlisted their police dog unit, an unmanned aerial vehicle and a chartered helicopter to assist in the search for the missing woman.
RCMP said in an updated news release late Wednesday afternoon that the woman, whose name has not been released, had recently arrived from the Czech Republic to work with the group of mushroom pickers.
In an update Thursday afternoon, RCMP said the search was being assisted by infrared technology.
Although this is the first instance of a mushroom picker going missing in the NWT this season, there have been a few people who have gone missing while picking mushrooms in the Yukon already this season.
Searching is made difficult due to the charred ground and pickers being covered in ash.
With recent storms in the area, many of the charred remains of trees could fall, creating a dangerous environment for someone who gets separated from their group as well as making it more difficult for searchers to locate a missing person.
"This is a challenging search and rescue operation due to the huge geographic area to cover and the environmental challenges," RCMP said in its news release Wednesday afternoon.
Yellowknifer met up with one of the searchers yesterday at the search command post near the Cameron River about 55 kilometres out the Ingraham trail, a fellow picker who only identified himself as Dave.
He said he is from the Czech Republic like the missing woman, who has been identified by her fellow pickers simply as Maria.
He said he was frustrated because RCMP had not brought a tracking dog to the scene to help in the search.
"The dogs are missing. Nobody's been able to organize the dogs. Maybe they can bring dogs in from Alberta. I'm upset and confused. I just don't understand this. They could use the dogs in the thick bush," he said.
Another picker, Josiane Tramblay from Montreal, said he is very concerned for Maria's safety.
"We don't know what happened to her. Another friend saw her in the burned out part of the bush and Maria told her she was going to get her backpack, which was only about 100 metres away," Tramblay said.
"The (friend) told her, 'OK I will see you back at camp.' The night she got lost was the night of the big storm with all the rain and lightning - it was darker in the bush."
Tramblay added her group have since found Maria's backpack, which was about a kilometre away from their camp.
The RCMP suggest taking the following precautions when in remote areas: have a communication device such as a satellite phone; carry a GPS and know how it works; work in pairs and stay close to one another and prepare for the worst with basic supplies such as water and snacks as it may take some time before searchers find you.
RCMP are asking at this time for the public to stay away from the search area to reduce interference with their search efforts.
- with files from John McFadden
